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Teams struggle to stay healthy as playoffs loom
By Mike Donoghue, Free Press Staff Writer
October 25, 2009
As the flu season begins to take a firmer hold across Vermont, high school athletic departments are struggling to keep their student-athletes healthy, especially as state tournaments get under way.
While some schools report they haven?t been heavily affected, U-32 is among those struggling to hold practices or field teams.
?We have been hit hard,? said athletic director Amy Molina, who noted U-32?s varsity teams were missing between five and 12 players at various points last week. The Raiders boys soccer team had to postpone the traditional Senior Day celebration at its final home game because six of the nine seniors were missing, she said.
?The good news is, we got it first. I think we will be better off then most,? Molina added as most of her school?s teams looked toward the postseason.
State tournament pairings for boys and girls soccer will be set Monday. The state field hockey tournaments began last week while the state cross country meet is next weekend. Football has one more week of regular-season play before the postseason starts Nov. 6.
Another hard-hit school, Burr and Burton, canceled classes and practices Thursday and Friday because about a quarter of the students were out sick. Athletic director Kathi Bierwirth said the Bulldogs hoped not to play any games during that two-day period, but due to logistics, the football game at U-32 could not be bumped from Friday to Saturday.
The Bulldogs dressed 24 players Friday, coach Jason Thomas said, three more than they had available the week before. Only 19 BBA students were at practice Tuesday.
Essex High School has seen some flu cases, but the only varsity team seriously impacted appeared to be boys cross country, athletic director Ed Hockenbury said. Practice was canceled for one day last week and the team was not expected to be at full strength for the Metro Division meet Saturday.
?We do have depth, so it is not as much as a problem at Essex as other schools,? he said.
The ability to give playing time to reserve athletes might be the one silver lining of the flu season, Molina said.
?Some younger players have been getting time on all the fields,? she said, noting U-32 called up six JV girls soccer players for a matchup with Northfield. ?Teams have learned you play with who you have: ?Who is going to pick up the slack?? It has been positive to see kids rally around one another.?
Most schools districts have taken extra precautions with teams and in the classroom.
?We?ve been pretty lucky it hasn?t hit us that hard,? Colchester athletic director Bernie Cieplicki said. ?We?ve tried to give kids their own water bottle, and the nurses are pro-active.?
North Country athletic director Mike Kiser said his school has done away with water bottles and is using disposable cups for teams.
Denise Alosa, a certified athletic trainer for South Burlington High School, said new water bottles were provided to every soccer player but that it is harder in football because of timeouts. She said some colleges have adopted a policy of having one person squeeze the bottle for players so it doesn?t touch mouths and that some schools in New Hampshire have opted not to hold sportsmanship handshakes after games to try to avoid infection.
But, Alosa said, no matter what precautions are taken on the field and in the locker room, students still are together in classrooms and lunch and can be impacted. Washing hands, covering mouths when coughing or sneezing and staying home with a fever are among the best acts of prevention, she said.
By Mike Donoghue, Free Press Staff Writer
October 25, 2009
As the flu season begins to take a firmer hold across Vermont, high school athletic departments are struggling to keep their student-athletes healthy, especially as state tournaments get under way.
While some schools report they haven?t been heavily affected, U-32 is among those struggling to hold practices or field teams.
?We have been hit hard,? said athletic director Amy Molina, who noted U-32?s varsity teams were missing between five and 12 players at various points last week. The Raiders boys soccer team had to postpone the traditional Senior Day celebration at its final home game because six of the nine seniors were missing, she said.
?The good news is, we got it first. I think we will be better off then most,? Molina added as most of her school?s teams looked toward the postseason.
State tournament pairings for boys and girls soccer will be set Monday. The state field hockey tournaments began last week while the state cross country meet is next weekend. Football has one more week of regular-season play before the postseason starts Nov. 6.
Another hard-hit school, Burr and Burton, canceled classes and practices Thursday and Friday because about a quarter of the students were out sick. Athletic director Kathi Bierwirth said the Bulldogs hoped not to play any games during that two-day period, but due to logistics, the football game at U-32 could not be bumped from Friday to Saturday.
The Bulldogs dressed 24 players Friday, coach Jason Thomas said, three more than they had available the week before. Only 19 BBA students were at practice Tuesday.
Essex High School has seen some flu cases, but the only varsity team seriously impacted appeared to be boys cross country, athletic director Ed Hockenbury said. Practice was canceled for one day last week and the team was not expected to be at full strength for the Metro Division meet Saturday.
?We do have depth, so it is not as much as a problem at Essex as other schools,? he said.
The ability to give playing time to reserve athletes might be the one silver lining of the flu season, Molina said.
?Some younger players have been getting time on all the fields,? she said, noting U-32 called up six JV girls soccer players for a matchup with Northfield. ?Teams have learned you play with who you have: ?Who is going to pick up the slack?? It has been positive to see kids rally around one another.?
Most schools districts have taken extra precautions with teams and in the classroom.
?We?ve been pretty lucky it hasn?t hit us that hard,? Colchester athletic director Bernie Cieplicki said. ?We?ve tried to give kids their own water bottle, and the nurses are pro-active.?
North Country athletic director Mike Kiser said his school has done away with water bottles and is using disposable cups for teams.
Denise Alosa, a certified athletic trainer for South Burlington High School, said new water bottles were provided to every soccer player but that it is harder in football because of timeouts. She said some colleges have adopted a policy of having one person squeeze the bottle for players so it doesn?t touch mouths and that some schools in New Hampshire have opted not to hold sportsmanship handshakes after games to try to avoid infection.
But, Alosa said, no matter what precautions are taken on the field and in the locker room, students still are together in classrooms and lunch and can be impacted. Washing hands, covering mouths when coughing or sneezing and staying home with a fever are among the best acts of prevention, she said.
